A PUBL ICAT ION OF  THE  NORTHWEST  PARKINSON ’S  FOUNDATION

A B O U T   U S

The Parkinson’s Post  is published by the Northwest Parkinson’s 

Foundation, a 501(c)(3) charitable 

organization. Content copyright 

Northwest Parkinson’s Foundation 2012. Permission for use of most 

material presented here is available 

by contacting us. We welcome your 

comments on all our activities. Call 

877.980.7500 or visit us at nwpf.org. 

Parkinson’s PostM I S S I O N

Our mission is to establish an 

optimal quality of life for the 

Northwest Parkinson’s community 

through awareness, education, 

advocacy and care

ADVOCACY     CAREADVOCACY     CAREAWARENESS      EDUCATIONAWARENESS      EDUCATION

The author at the finish line of the STP with his father.

F A L L Q U A R T E R • 2 0 1 2

I N S I D E

November is Caregivers Month .....2HOPE Conference .....3

Advice from the Experts ..4-5Team News .....6

Tribute Gifts .....7

My Walking StickBY REBECCA McGAVICK

The year 2000 was one of unpredictable changes. I had a plan. My child would graduate, move into a life of her own, and I'd make a few changes in my life also. Well! There were changes: my ten-year relationship ended, my dog died, and I was diagnosed with PD. Fast forward a bit, now I have a son-in-law, a grand-daughter and for the last eight years, a new man in my life who came with a dog. From 2000 to 2012, my life has had many ups and downs. I remember wondering how I would feel the first time people around me told a Parkinson's joke. . . . . . . . It was actually sort of. . . . . . . funny? I wasn't very open about the disease in the beginning. I was trying to adjust and didn't need a lot of input. I didn't know much. I did, and still do, work on a need-to-know basis. If something new develops in my illness, I seek information from a great team of doctors I've accumulated over the years. I still don't ask too many questions about what might happen next. No one knows the answer to that. We all move at our own pace with our own symptoms. I just wait until something new happens. Somewhere along the line, I thought we (people with Parkinson's) should become our own advocates. I started a support group and found that many people are as shy as I am about letting strangers see their symptoms or the effects of them. We know more about what our own symptoms are than anyone else, includ-

ing the medical profession, at times. Many days you would think that I am completely normal, so to speak. Then there are days when I use a stick to walk and I am fuzzy-minded. From day to day, we never know how we'll feel, but we should talk about it. A friend of mine had a walking stick I admired greatly. It was beaded in bright colors, and some of the beads click softly when you walk. It fit my hands perfectly. It was just the right height to help me walk with good posture. I asked him if whoever made his stick would make me one. He said his sister had made it for him. I didn't see him again for a few months. When I did, it didn't seem appropriate to ask about the stick.

Photo courtesy Rebecca McGavick, showing off her walking stick.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 6

p a r k i n s o n ’s p o s t f a l l q u a r t e r 2 0 1 22

From Boyfriend to Care-PartnerBY RICHARD HOLLOWAY

I didn’t want to do it. I didn’t want to go. But, since I love my girlfriend, I reluctantly said “yes” to going to a caregiver conference. My girlfriend was diagnosed with Parkin-son’s disease 13 years ago, but I just don’t see myself in the role of caregiver. There are days when she is able to do more than I am. She has her good days and bad days, but generally, she still gets up and moves on. So when she asked me to go to the conference, I was thinking, I don’t need this now. I was wrong. I attended the 19th Annual Challenges in Caregiving Conference

in Tukwila. I had no idea what to expect, but I was pretty sure it would be a full day of angst, frustration and a sad view of the future I did not want to see. As it is, I get the wind knocked out of me once a month when we go to our Parkinson’s support group here in town. It gets so intense and everywhere in the room I see reminders of things to come. So heading into a conference of 200-300 people, I was defensive; ready for a long, drawn-out, painful day. I was wrong again.

PEOPLE

NWPF

Board of DirectorsElizabeth BacherBill BellWilliam Benfield, Ph.D.Steve BooneSierra Farris, PA-CGov. Booth GardnerMonique L. Giroux, M.D.Karen A. HadleyRichard HadleySheryl HarmonAdam Hebb, M.D.Craig HowardLarry JacobsonMatt RamermanTom RyanRobert E. StoryWilliam Wurts

Directors Emeritus Gov. Daniel J. EvansNancy EvansArthur Harrigan Jr.Hal NewsomPriscilla Tanase

Executive DirectorColleen Crowley, J.D., CFRE

Medical DirectorMonique L. Giroux, M.D.

AdministratorCharlotte Moss

Development DirectorJoseph DiChiaro

Program DirectorAlecha Newbern

Social Services ManagerRuth Egger, M.S.

&Note from the Executive DirectorBY COLLEEN CROWLEY

Honor a Caregiver! Throughout the year, the NWPF strives to bring you essential information on ways to live well with Parkinson’s. While much of this information focuses on the patient, we also recognize the vital role that caregivers play in the health and well-being of people living with Parkinson’s. November is designated as National Caregiver’s Month. Being a caregiver is a challenging and rewarding jour-ney. It is a careful balancing act between the needs of a

loved one and the needs of the caregiver, and it requires its own special network of support and inspiration. Just as we seek to educate and inform patients, we also provide information, education and support to caregivers, especially those who are new to the world of Parkinson’s, about ways they can take care of themselves while helping people with Parkinson’s. In honor of the caregiver who has supported you and your loved ones throughout the year, we ask you to consider making a gift to NWPF of $15, $25, $50 or your most generous contribution. Your gift will be a meaningful tribute to the Parkinson’s partner in your life and an inspiration to all of the unsung heroes in our community. With your help, we can continue to support all who are touched by Parkin-son’s, including the caregivers and families who offer so much help and hope. Thank you for considering a gift and your support of NWPF.

November is Caregivers Month!

CONTINUED ON PAGE 8

Richard Holloway. Photo courtesy of Rebecca McGavick

f a l l q u a r t e r 2 0 1 2 p a r k i n s o n ’s p o s t 3

Presented by NWPF and APDA

Saturday, November 17, 2012Seattle Hilton Airport & Conference Center

17620 International Blvd., Seattle, WA 98188

PROGRAM8:00 am Check-In

Keynote Speaker: Rich CliffordRetired NASA Astronaut“An Astronaut’s Journey with Parkinson’s Disease”

Speaker: Curt Freed, MDProfessor and Head, Division of Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology University of Colorado School of Medicine“Stem Cell Transplantation and Other New Treatments for Parkinson’s Disease”

Afternoon Breakout Sessions(Choose one)

Panel Session #1Earlier Parkinson’s StagesJennifer Witt, MD and Sally Friedman, BS

Panel Session #2Later Parkinson’s StagesLissa Brod, MD and Carin Mack, MSW

Speaker: Ann Zylstra, PTBooth Gardner Parkinson’s Care CenterEvergreen Health”The Power of Exercise”Tai Chi with Karin CollinsLaughter Yoga with Andrew Whitver

3:00 pm Adjourn

REGISTRATION FORMRegister online at nwpf.org or Call 1.877.980.7500To pay with check:Complete and mail this portion of the form to:Northwest Parkinson’s Foundation400 Mercer Street, Ste. 504 Seattle, WA 98109-4641

CONFERENCE FEE: $30.00

The conference fee includes admittance to speaker presentations, breakfast rolls, lunch, afternoon snack, vendor exhibits and free parking.

ATTENDEE INFORMATION

Attendee 1: ☐ Mr. ☐ Mrs.

____________________________________________

Attendee 2: ☐ Mr. ☐ Mrs.

____________________________________________

Address_____________________________________

City ________________________________________

State _______________________ Zip ____________

Telephone ______________________________________

Email Address __________________________________

LUNCHEON SELECTION

Marinated breast of chicken with roasted tomato and shallot sauce.

Vegetarian: Grilled herbed polenta with savory sun-dried tomato sauce.

ATTENDEE (Pick your food selection)

1 ______________________________________________

2 ______________________________________________

Presented with support from

p a r k i n s o n ’s p o s t f a l l q u a r t e r 2 0 1 24

A D V I C E F R O M T H E E X P E R T S

Mindfulness TherapyBY MONIQUE GIROUX

Mindfulness therapy is a powerful technique that can reduce the nega-tive impact of stress and sharpen the mind’s potential for personal healing. Psychologist Jan Fite, PhD describes mindfulness as a practice which provides just this, a way to stay in the present moment, engag-ing in life and living life as fully as you can. Mindfulness is often

defined as being present, in the moment, with intention in a non-judgmental way. Being mindful allows the mind to see things for what they are and then to let the thoughts go, instead of letting our thoughts control our body, mind and brain function. So how can this help you? Being present in the moment helps one become aware of the many thoughts, ideas, distractions and assumptions that drive our behavior and impact our wellbeing on a daily basis. Our mind can become distracted by making assumptions, jumping to conclusions, and forming judgments that can have a negative impact on our thoughts. Becoming aware of these roaming or ruminating thoughts is the first step to living in the moment. Ob-serving your thoughts without judgment helps you become more aware of your body, sensations, emotions and surroundings. This technique is particularly powerful for people living with conditions such as Parkinson’s. For example, when tremor increases you now have one of two choices — react or respond. At first glance these choices may seem very similar, but they are indeed very different in mindset and outcome. * React. By reacting to tremor you are giving control to the spontaneous thoughts and feelings that affect your behavior and how you feel. Your spontaneous thoughts are unique to you but often include negative judgments such as: tremor is running my life; my disease is worse; I must fix this or stop this now; if only I didn’t have tremor everything would be fine; what if someone sees

The power to heal can come from many places. For instance, medication and surgery can treat symptoms and restore many of the body’s functions that can be lost from disease. However, modern science and medicine alone may not be enough to heal the whole per-son. When a disease has no cure and symptoms come and go, sometimes without warning, the mind is on constant alert, monitoring for changes. This alert system, constantly monitoring for a negative change, reminds you daily that you have PD and sets the stage for worry and anxieties about the future. The mind can become so preoccupied with the negative impact of symptoms that living in the moment can become lost. How the mind translates the sensations from the body, so too can the mind translate the power of healing over the body. Our mind can be our strongest asset or biggest obstacle when it comes to feeling better. Taking steps to change our habits for healthier living toward a focus on healing requires a commitment from the mind. The power to heal the whole person can be found within.

my tremor. These reactions can lead to a ‘snow ball effect,’ fur-ther worsening stress which can then lead to increased tremor.* Respond. By responding to tremor you are no longer react-ing but instead are observing and choosing positive responses such as: this problem will pass; I will sit for a few minutes to let this pass; I have experienced tremor before; my tremor is in my hands but is not me. By choosing your response you gain a sense of control and change the very relationship you have to your disease or symptom. This does not mean that you have given in to your symp-toms or that you enjoy the fact that you have Parkinson’s disease, but it does reduce the downward spiral that can occur with life problems or obstacles. Mindfulness can be an infor-mal practice in which daily experiences and moments are used as an opportunity to be present. The next time you awaken to a sunrise, hear the laughter of a child, or are stuck in traffic you can practice mindfulness. Mindfulness is also practiced as a formal exercise with meditation. One way to practice mindfulness meditation is to sit quietly and calmly but with attention and awareness. Bringing your attention to your breathing is one way to focus your attention. During this time you will simply observe your thoughts, feelings, sensations and perceptions and let them pass without judging them, labeling them or controlling them. Meditation is a practice, and as such the benefits will improve with time and practice. Mindfulness is not without risk that can come from paying attention to and increasing your awareness of thoughts and behavior. Individuals with psychotic disorders, significant depression, or post- traumatic stress dis-order should practice mindfulness meditation under the care of a mental health professional. •

Dr. Giroux serves as medical director to NWPF and is the co-founder of Movement and Neuroperformance Center of Colorado.

Photo courtesy of Dr. Monique Giroux

f a l l q u a r t e r 2 0 1 2 p a r k i n s o n ’s p o s t 5

Advice from a Member of the TeamBY AMY COLE, RN

As a nurse, I consider it one of the “perks” of the job to be an advocate for my patients. Teaching patients and their care partners how to effectively commu-nicate with providers, organize informa-tion and take charge of their care is part of the responsibility of this role. Parkinson’s disease is both chronic and progressive, making it essential to get organized from the start and build an effective working relationship with your neurologist. By taking an active

role, you can optimize results from the relatively short amount of face-to-face time at your visits and minimize a feeling of helplessness. If there’s one thing my patients across the board hold important, it’s independence. So, here’s your chance. Taking an active role begins with awareness. Be aware of your symptoms and the medications or treatments that are prescribed for those symptoms. Be aware of the “what” and “why” when something is prescribed or recommended to you. Do this by fully participating in your doctor visits. Ask questions when your neurologist recommends physical therapy or prescribes medication. What symptoms is this therapy supposed to help? What are some side effects to look for with this medication? Physicians want you to understand your treatment; they know that in order for their recommendations to be valuable and successful, they need to understand you! Think holistically when it comes to evaluating your current sta-tus and treatments. How do your symptoms affect you on a day-to-day, month-to-month basis? Do your symptoms impact you socially or psychologically? Parkinson’s disease is full of up- and-down days. Try not to look at your symptoms on a day-to-day basis, but instead try to answer how you were over all this last month or season. This information can help your neurologist understand what makes you unique from the previous patient and direct their course of treatment specifically for you. Your active role can be extended to the rest of your Parkinson’s team. It’s important to remember that your neurologist is only one member of this team; others may include your rehab therapists, nurs-es, counselors, other physicians, caregivers/care partner and family. Make sure they are all in the know about your current status, regimen, and even education about Parkinson’s disease. Believe it or not, there

are some things about Parkinson’s disease that your primary care physician may not know. They may not realize that some medi-cations for nausea are contraindicated in the Parkinson’s patient. Your nurse in the hospital might not know why you have to have your medications on time. The National Parkinson’s Foundation has a campaign called “Aware in Care” as a tool for patients to share important information about Parkinson’s to other providers that may be caring for them, particularly with regards to the hospital-ized patient. For more information, go to www.AwareinCare.org. Now let’s talk about getting organized. Start by keeping daily notes of what questions and concerns you have for your neurolo-gist. If you write your questions down before your visit, you are more likely to remember them and get them answered. Be sure to provide your neurologist with a complete list of all your medi-cations including supplements and over-the-counter medica-tions. Include dosages, number of tablets, and times throughout the day the medications are taken. Because Parkinson’s medica-tions can be taken multiple times throughout the day, it is helpful if you keep this information on a grid so your neurologist can get

a clear picture of what your regi-men looks like. Keep track of your provider’s recommendations and answers to your questions including the reasons those specific recom-

mendations were made. These will be your goals and a starting point for your next visit. Learn more about preparing for visits and organizing your information and symptoms in the book Every Victory Counts: Essential Information and Inspiration for a Lifetime of Wellness with Parkinson’s Disease. It will give you a starting point and may answer questions you have along the way. Or check out the Wellness Center at the NWPF.org website. Getting the most out of the time you have during your neurologist appointment is a skill, but like learning to live and cope with Parkinson’s, it will come with time. Learning about Parkinson’s is an evolving process. You will need to identify which specific challenges you face, develop working relationships with your providers, and find and adhere to successful treatment plans. By taking an active role you can maximize your outcomes and take charge of living well with Parkinson’s disease. •

Amy Cole is an RN at the Booth Gardner Parkinson’s Center at Evergreen Hospital, Kirkland, WA. Ms. Cole's area of interest and focus is holistic and comprehensive care.

Taking an active role begins with awareness.

Photo courtesy of Amy Cole

p a r k i n s o n ’s p o s t f a l l q u a r t e r 2 0 1 26

T E A M N E W S

All smiles at the finish line! Staff photo.

New Team Member for NWPFNWPF is pleased to welcome Charlotte Moss to our team of dedicated professionals. Charlotte has more than fifteen years experience working for nonprofits special-izing in finance, operations and human resources, as well as twelve years as a volunteer involved with fundraising, marketing and volunteer management. She holds a BS degree in Business Administration from the University of Illinois, a Graduate Certificate in Accounting from the University of Washington and a Graduate Certificate in Fundraising from Boston University. Charlotte lived in Europe when she was young and continues to travel there to visit family. She is an avid hiker and gardener, occasional skier, and continues to volunteer with various nonprofit organizations. •

Team Parkinson’s Rides Again!Every year, we count on the dedication and support of cyclists, volunteers and countless contributors to raise awareness of Parkinson's throughout our community. Whether slogging 200+ miles from Seattle to Portland by bicycle, support-ing Team Parkin-son’s at rest stops, or donating needed funds for programs and services, each Team member con-tributes to a better life for those living with Parkinson's. This year, 63 Team members raised more than $61,000 through contributions from family, friends and colleagues. We were also proud to have five riders with Parkinson's make the journey to Portland with us this year. Special thanks go out

to our sponsors Teva Neuroscience and Port Madison Enter-prises, in-kind donors Cameron Catering and Cherrish, and the design services of Bryan Gough. However, the road doesn't end with the ride, nor do the needs of those depending on NWPF for guidance, inspiration and support. Donations in support of Team Parkinson's can be made throughout the year by going to our website and clicking on Team Parkinson's. Donations may be made either to the Team as a whole, or to an individual rider. •

Volunteers support the riders. Staff photo.

My Walking Stick CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 My partner, who does not suffer from the shyness I some-times do, later asked my friend about the stick. My friend said to see him the next day. That day my partner came home with my stick. It is one of my favorite belongings. So here I am, very happy to have a beaded walking stick that is blessed by my tribal friend. Thank you, Mr. Cooper. Now to the point of this ramble. Whenever I go out with my beaded stick, it draws attention to itself. Total strang-ers have stopped in the middle of the road to tell me what a nice stick it is. This has caused some disconcerting situations. When the person talking is NOT in the middle of the road, we usually end up having a conversation about the stick and then about Parkinson's. People's responses are soft, gentle and curi-ous. I always tell them I'd be happy to answer any questions they have if I can. I think somehow the stick allows them to see me as a person with a pretty stick instead of a person with a disability. It makes me comfortable enough to talk to strang-ers about our strange disease. It's a good thing. •

Rebecca McGavick lives in Washington and recently tried zip lining, still participates in her local PD support group and is awaiting (eagerly) another grandchild.

f a l l q u a r t e r 2 0 1 2 p a r k i n s o n ’s p o s t 7

In HonorAlfred James AllemanAlice Alleman

Gerry AllgeierMarsha Allgeier

James AshdownGene Ashdown

Steve BackerDoris, Denise & Chris Dickinsen

Wayne BlackburnTammera Richards

Gail ButlerMr. & Mrs. Jack ButlerElizabeth A. Haddon

Jeff CCindy Owens

Kenneth CarstensAmanda Bernardy

Herb ChereckDonna ChereckMary G. MassaBlaine Werner

Rae ColeJerry Cole

Bruce & Aisa CollinsMr. & Mrs. Everett J. Nelson

The Creighton FamilyMr. & Mrs. Aaron Wyatt

James CreightonJen CreightonMr. & Mrs. Gene Davis

Donna DuekerKen Dueker

Scott EdwardsMark Hausman

Everett EmmonsMr. & Mrs. Ray M. Nixon

Lillian Lois Ericson JohnsonLinda-Beth Johnson Riggs

Robert FergusonHolli Templeton

Family FundsAlvord Medical Director Fund in Memory of Roger EvansKristin KennellLaurelhurst Gradeschool ClassmatesMarjorie SandersMr. & Mrs. Michael J. Strand

Mel Bacher Family Fund

Mary A. Mitchell Memorial FundMr. & Mrs. Steve CoryMr. & Mrs. Michael GrayLaura LewisCatherine MeehanDon MitchellNancy MitchellWilliam F. MitchellWilliam R. MitchellKathleen Norton

Margaret (Martie) Philbrick Family Fund

Tina Bell Torrance Family Fund

Gifts to the Northwest Parkinson’s Foundation support our educational publications and self-care tools, in-cluding this newsletter, weekly e-mail news updates, our website, patient-education programs and our annual HOPE Conference on Parkinson’s.

We are privileged that so many in the Northwest Parkinson’s Foundation family support our mission by giving generously throughout the year. To make a donation or for more information, contact Joseph DiChiaro at joseph@nwpf.org. Gifts listed here are from June 1 through August 31, 2012

Ed FlemingAlice AllemanJerry ColeMr. & Mrs. Charlie NortonKristin SteeleKay SweeneyChristine Viola-Krause

The Hon. Booth GardnerRobert A. Roegner

Diana GluesenJay M. Gano

David R. HamroSarah Hamro

Betty HoagMr. & Mrs. Wolfgang Roecks

Brian Hoots & Tanya ReistrofferMr. & Mrs. Roger ArlethMr. & Mrs. Patrick CurrierMr. & Mrs. M. DonleyJodie B. HootsRobert KosterRichard LauridsenJohn MiskulinMr. & Mrs. Robert Sanborn

Pat HovdeSandra Hart

Patricia HowardHeather Townsend

Lise HustedSidni Sobolik

Tobias JeanJennifer Schwanitz

Herb JenkinsMr. & Mrs. Reginald Amfield

Chris JewellFrank Jewell

Ted KitajoJen Kitajo

Chris KnickerbockerMr. & Mrs. Talmadge Birdsong

Robert KoleAlice J. DoslandMr. & Mrs. Timothy KrauseMr. & Mrs. Brad Wagner

Michael KurtzLori Magaro

Carolyn Lorang & Jerry SchatzSusan K. Baxter

Theodora LyonsShana E. Wendorf

John ManuelGenida Purcell

Kim MasonKathy Christensen

Coach Michael McKinlayKristene AllanRachel AuffantMargaret L. BurtchAllison L. Cox

Vera MillerLisa Watson

Marvin MoritzMr. & Mrs. Wolfgang RoecksKent SmutnyMr. & Mrs. Kerstin SmutnyMr. & Mrs. Thane Sunde

Kevin MurphyKay Sweeney

Martin NathanMr. & Mrs. Ed Fawcett Sr.

In MemoryShirley AmbroseMr. & Mrs. Gerald J. Portele

Irene AndersonBeverley L. Sheldahl

James R. BallTiffany Lindbloom

Fern BartlettMr. & Mrs. Donald C. Peters Jr.

Jack BenaroyaMr. & Mrs. Llewelyn G. Pritchard

Derek BrineD. Brine

Frank BussingVeda Baldwin

Nancy ButtorffGail Buttorff

Richard CampbellMr. & Mrs. Dennis G. Burgess

Margaret Jardin CamposMargaret C. DegrootMr. & Mrs. Ackley HollisterEric D. Kitts, DDSMr. & Mrs. Tanner Joe Meyer Sr.Marquita MossRowena J. OtrembaMr. & Mrs. Wayne ReidCarla F. Thomas

Lynne CardinalLenora F. Pearl

Margaret CliftJames P. Clift

Curt CooperColleen Crowley

John CrowleyColleen Crowley

JoAnn Sharon CuthbertsonMr. & Mrs. Mike GuntherMeladee HammonsLois WagnerDeborah S. Yarborough

Bruce DadyMr. & Mrs. Mherling I. Luce

Neil DickinsenMr. & Mrs. Donald L. DomeAngela DrewryMr. & Mrs. Dick HamlinMr. & Mrs. Leon RightmireMr. & Mrs. Richard SchellMr. and Mrs. Larry Scott

Ralph DorfmanBarnaby Dorfman

John Mitchell DurhamKristin Riley

David EastonMr. & Mrs. Ron KaufmanRobert C. VinsonMr. & Mrs. Bruce Wilson

Arthur L. EdwardsMr. & Mrs. Brian J. Ducey

David EgelandMr. & Mrs. Verne CorrellMr. & Mrs. N. David GuetzkeMr. & Mrs. Ross HansingMr. & Mrs. Ross I. HansingMr. & Mrs. Laurence HughesMr. & Mrs. Craig W. PfeiferMr. & Mrs. Paul A. TomascakMr. & Mrs. C. Robert Willardson

Carol EltonPeter Elton

Neil FarrellMaureen Oscadal

Nina GassMr. & Mrs. Jim Garnand

James V. GordonJames B. Gordon

Joan GreewaldDiana Pearson

Alfred C. Hayes Jr.Mr. & Mrs. Daniel L. King

Kenneth W. HedenstromMr. & Mrs. Gene EikumMarvin Knotts

Eric B. HerdmanJan Herdman

Ben HimmelfarbMyra Himmelfarb

Mary HoisingtonDale O. Hoisington

John HolmstromEichner & Associates PS

Sandra HootsPhyllis Dunlap

Lyman HullMr. & Mrs. Robert W. Cram

R. Wayne HunterJune M. Hunter

Clyde V. JacobsenMr. & Mrs. Andrew P. Kerr

Herb JenkinsDiane DenoMr. & Mrs. Delbert L. Honn

Lillian JohnsonMr. & Mrs. Tim Thorp

Stephen KastnerStacy Alexander

Jeannie KellyJohn A. Kelly

Ernest K. KnudsonMr. & Mrs. Leon Small

Russell KovalchikMr. & Mrs. Frederick Karkalik

Mel LightMr. & Mrs. Joseph W. Gelzer

Jesse LockyerDorothy Pentheny

Louis Linden MadsenHarry Hayter

Dorothy MartinsonMr. & Mrs. George Byers

Bob MassoniMr. & Mrs. Harold Rubin

Josephine MaurerSusan Pilawski

George MooreWinnie Lee Moore

Buddy MusanteVirginia Thompson

Kathleen MyhreGlenn M. Myhre

Tee NakamuraJudy A. Hayashida

Jim NorrisLynn Kunkel

Don NorvellMarilyn Loftus

John E. O'HeronDeborah M. DrllevichAkvera GoodspeedMr. & Mrs. Charles HoppeLoretta KlineKikue KonoDerald W. MorfittNancy O'HeronMr. & Mrs. Alonzo D. PaigeJames Robert PaulsenJoan Witte

Curtis “Lee” ParishMr. & Mrs. E.S. BellLois DavisGayle A. MoreheadJeanine TaylorMr. & Mrs. George L. Wilder

John R. PetersenStephanie M. AlexanderDolores L. ChingDavid W. ClarkEric JensenMr. & Mrs. Robert A. JensenMr. & Mrs. Harry NelsonMr. & Mrs. Donald S. Young

Tony PfeifferMr. & Mrs. Richard Brittain

Mike ReynoldsJim Newark

Mr. & Mrs. Ed BeaverMr. & Mrs. William Lundberg

TRIBuTe GIFTS

Ann Sather StrandKarin Strand

Gerald “Jerry” SearlBurrows TractorCarrier Transports Inc.Columbia Basin CruisersMr. & Mrs. W.A. DoppsHelen HowsonMr. & Mrs. James I. JacobsMr. & Mrs. Larry MortimerMr. and Mrs. Charlie O'ConnorThomas O. PencePowers & Therrien Enterprises Inc.Mr. & Mrs. Harry RainfordRankin Equipment CompanySheri RyndRoyal SchleppEvelyne SearlRuth Stone

Alan SenterBarbara Kurtis

Corinne SiglCraig Sigl

Vernetta SlackJennifer Andrews

Harold SpanglerStacey Moret

Evelyn StevensTom Stevens

Russ SwansonLynnette Vehrs

Norman TinklepaughMr. & Mrs. Lavern BlackburnRhonda DelaneyJoel ShroyerJessica Tinklepaugh

Stanley TomichPatricia R. Tomich

Minnie Clarice TompkinsKimberly Mace

R. Wayne UhtGarnero Smith Hurd & MillerKaren HansenMargaret HansenMarian D. JamesBarbara J. KrullMr. & Mrs. Duwayne LydeenSylvia RobinsonDianne M. Tanner

Willard WallinMary HarpChristopher O'Neill

Dennis WoodeyMr. & Mrs. Ryan Woodey

Steve YarnallKaren L. King

Hal NewsomDr. & Mrs. Stephen BunchDr. & Mrs. Allen H. Johnson

Chad PainterMr. & Mrs. Jason BellMr. & Mrs. Paul Lewis

Hal PetersonKevin Maijala

Victor A. PetersonJeanette Peterson

Antonia & Jack PetrashJessie M. Nelson

Carole ReidMr. & Mrs. George W. Oleyar

Jeanette SchimmelbuschMr. & Mrs. Andre Schimmelbusch

Marcie Sewell & Tom SextonM. Laverne Sewell

Anne ShowersRichard Massey

Paul SlotboomMr. & Mrs. David Slotboom

Gayle SniderSally Sheck

Pam SpinoMr. & Mrs. Edward L. Gervais

Gerry SutherlandMr. & Mrs. Ryan Sutherland

Christine ThorsonDuane S. Thorson

Peggy Van HulsteynMr. & Mrs. Brian Fleming

Susan WrigleyMr. & Mrs. Richard Gibson

p a r k i n s o n ’s p o s t f a l l q u a r t e r 2 0 1 28

NONPROFIT ORG.U.S. POSTAGE

PAIDSEATTLE, WA

PERMIT NO. 02443

400 Mercer StreetSuite 504

Seattle, WA 98109-4611877.980.7500

nwpf.org

Please contact us if you do not wish to receive the 

Parkinson’s Post.

In MemoryElizabeth Louise Pelham, 1930-2012

Brookfield, Missouri to Seattle, Washington (and points in between)

Her story reads like an adventure novel – comedy, drama, variety and surprise – and so it was. From farming and poverty, to college, the stage, musician, actress, director, producer and mentor, mother, bookkeeper – she seemed to do it all, and well. Oh, and did I mention the World’s Fair? She did. Often. It was never difficult to strike up a conversation, because her life experience touched on nearly everything; nor was it hard to come away feeling better informed. Her energy and work ethic made us feel guilty, her frankness at times stopped us in our tracks, but her optimism and spirit always lifted us and made us smile. For nearly ten years she played an invaluable role in the work of this organization as administrator. Then, in a flash it seemed, she was gone. Though she lived so long and so well, we never expected her to leave so soon – leaving behind just enough of her indomitable will and strength with which to carry on.

From Boyfriend to Care-Partner CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2 The conference was a big surprise. I was quietly over-whelmed by the love and understanding that came not only from the speakers, but from my fellow caregivers as well. There was a gentleness to the day. I was able to listen to and share stories that for the mo-ment made me feel better. I saw for the first time that I am not alone in this sad, wonderful journey. I was also pleasantly surprised by the lack of “go-team-go” attitude. You know what I’m talking about. No! Not everything is fine. I found it refreshing that they talked about the hard realities of every-day life but also turned around and gave me tools to work with to make it better, or at least more manageable. I was given lots of tools and lots of information. There were more phone numbers and websites than I could possibly remember or use. But I came away feeling better about my partnership with the one I love. I just feel a bit calmer. So, if you are a caregiver for a person with PD — GO! • Richard Holloway moved to Washington from New Jersey. He loves jazz, the old stuff, and collects vinyl records of all sorts. He enjoys road trips to see new places or explore old ones.